Combined auto bed and luggage carrier



Ndv. 16, 1926.

H. P. RASMUSSEN COMBINED AUTO BED AND LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Sept. 29, 1924 2 Sneets-Sheet l jwummz Hans P. Rasmussen Qmnnew Nov. 16 1926. 1,606,895

H. P. RASMUSSEN COMBINED AUTO BED AND LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Sept. 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Shee 2 e1 Hams R sm Q58 1 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES HANS P. RASMUSSEN, OF KENT, WASHINGTON.

COMBINED AUTO BED AND LUGGAGE CARR/TEE. 7

Application filed September 29, 1924. Serial No. 740,510.

My invention relates to an improvement in equipment particularly designed for attachment to automobiles to facilitate camping, and has for its particular object the provision of a combined luggage carrier, table, and bed.

It is a considerable problem so to arrange a camping outfit that it is convenient of access when required, but so that it is least conspicuous and in the way when traveling. It is undesirable to clutter the running boards with luggage, for ingress and egress is thereby blocked, but with the ordinary type of luggage carriers a small bundle only can be supported thereon. lVhile many cars are formed with beds which may be made up within the car, yet" it 1S' 0ft6Il-Cl$ll'l.bl8 to make up a separate bed without the car. My invention is particularly designed to accomplish these several objects, and inaddition, to provide a satisfactory table in association with and conveniently placed in relation to a grub box.

A further object is the provision of a device of this character which will enable lug- I gage to be assembled and rolled into convenient bundles and which may thereafter be folded without disturbing the bundles, and in such a way as to maintain them in position for traveling.

A further object is the provision in, connection with such a device, of means which will serve in the dual capacity of a brace and leg for the projecting end of the bed.

It is also my object to provide a device of the character described which will be simple. cheaply constructed, and easy to fold or unfold. and therefore convenient in use.

lily invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown my'invention in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure l is a side elevation of the device, shown folded and attached to the rear end of the automobile.

Figure 2 is asimilar elevation showing the device unfolded and with the bed set up.-

Figure 3 is a planview of the device unfolded, a part being broken away.

Two members, which may be frames of any suitable construction, and which for convenience I have termedplatform members, are hinged together. One of these platform members 1 is provided with means such as the extensions 10 and U-bolt-s 11 by means of which it may be secured to a frame member C of an automobile. The other platform member 2 is hinged at 21 to the platform member-1 and when unfolded as shown in Figure 2, lies in a common plane with the member 1. From this position it is adapted to swing into a position, as shown in Figure l, substantially at right angles to the plat-form member v1.

The two platform members may conveniently be formed of angle irons forming the sides thereof and connected by suitable trans verse members. A grub box 13, resting at its ends upon the flanges of these angle bars, or otherwise supported therefrom, may form the transverse member of the platform member 1 and the side angle of the platform member 2 may be connected by slats or similar members 22, preferably in contact or closely adjacent each other, which when the device is unfolded'conveniently serves as a table. In addition cross bars 23 and 33 may be employed to connect the side angles or the brackets 3 and 30 forming part thereof or attached thereto, as will be explained hereinafter. The grub box being supported upon the platform member 1, and the slats 22 forming the table being supported upon the adjacent member 2, it will be apparent that when the table is in horizontal position the grub box will be immediately accessible and adjacent thereto.

Brackets 3 are supported upon the swinging ends of the members 2 at each side thereof, and preferably extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. These are shown as comprising simply metal straps. Bean wardly facing. slots 31 are formed in these brackets 3, which slots are intended to receive a transverse bar 41 secured in the end of a bed fabric 4. If desired springs 40 may be interposed between the end of the bed fabric and the transverse bar 41. Similar brackets 41 and 42 when the latter are positioned in their respective slots31 and 32 In order to position the bars within these slots, therefore, the platform member Qmust not have been swung fully down but must be raised somewhat to bring its'bracket 3.'upward and forward. By then permitting it to swing downward so that the platform members 1 and 2 lie in a common plane, the bed fabric, dis stretched tightly and the bars l1 and 42 are secured in "their slots to prevent "accidental removal thereof latch extendind-f between the iheinbers l and 2 below the ot 21;, serves to pi eient'the breaking of the joint at tliis point andprevents acci- 'itatcollapse of the bcd. "ll-he tension of tlielf abric may be regulated, if desired, by fqrming the bar 42 of non-circular cross seam; at least where, it is received in. the slots and by wrapping the fabric thereabout, so that by wrapping more fabric aboutthis bar 42tl1e tension of the fabric when the bed is setup may be increased, or

vice versa.

" A brace 6 is employed to maintain the device infolded position. This is preferably made of such length and is so positioned that whenfthe deviceis unfolded it will reach tothe gmumi and serve'as a leg to support the outer end hf the bed, or to sup port the table. It may conveniently be pivot'ed upon the member 2 at 2 0 andis pro vided with af'slot 61 which engages overa pin '31 upon the'member 1, to prevent acci dental unfolding of the, device when travelingl' ":Fhis tendency is also resisted Iby pressure of the luggage against theupraised member 2, which "will tend to preventdi'sengagem ent of the slot6gl from its bar 33.

"'It Will be evident that the leg 6, resting upon the *ground when the device is un folde'd,will tend to force upward the swinging'end of the member 2 and will tend'to break thejoint atthe hinge 21 Thisisparticula'rly true by reason of a tendency of the. platform member 1- to give with the spring S of the car. For this reason, also, it is essential that some means be provided, such as the latch 5, for preventing breaking of the device at, the hingejointQlJ The memher 6, wheniacting as a brace, is positioned so that it willexte'nd substantially from the upperedge oftheluggage carrier to its in side lower edge, thusext'ending across the sace' which would befoccupie'd 'byi'olls;

y making the rolls of a length to'lie'b'e tween the two braces 6, they are thus held more securelyin position, without lashing. The device when in position to function as a luggage carrier islof considerable length and capacity. All articles may 'be'made up into a single large rollwhile the, bed; is still set up, and maythen be left in position,

merely folding up the memberZ and securing the bracesifi, whereupon the devlce and the luggage supported thereby is in positater-making and breaking of camp and maintains all loose articles in a single roll upon the rear of the car. and out of the way.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention is: 1. In a combined luggage carrier and bed frame for automob les, a hi ngedly connected two partframe adapted to receiye a bedding.

supporting web, one part ofsaidframe beingprovided with means for fixedly securit'to the rear end of an automobile to occupy a horizontal plane, the other part of the frame being adapted to swing upon the other part between horizontal and vertical planes, means for securing said swingmg" part either of said positions, the swinging part of the frame having' luggage retaining members extending between its sides,an'd a storage box fitting in the fixed frame part and adapted to serve asa luggage carrying floor forsaid frame section.

2. 111a combined. luggage carrier and bed frame 'for automobiles, a bed frame composed of two se ct-ions hinged together to fold into rightangular an'dfalign'ed positions, one, of' said frames at the edge opposite to said hinge:- being provided with an arm and means for clamping it to the chassisside frame at the jear, to occupy a horizontal position, said section being adapted to receive, a'storage box to serve asa support for the bedding, combined leg and brace bars secured to the swinging bed frame section and means for detachably securing said bracebars to the fixed bed frame section to thereby support the swinging section in raised position and to act as luggage retaining'bars. 'f

3. In a combined luggage carrier and bed frame for automobiles, a hingedly connected two part bed. frame, said parts being adapted .to swing into aligned and right angular positions,one part of saidframe being provided with means for securing it to the chassis side bars, a storage box adapted to fitinand be carried bysaid fixed frame section and to serve as a luggage retaining floor therefor, the other frame section having luggage retainingmembers filling the opening therein, combined supporting legs and connecting braces pivoted to said swinging section, said braces and the fixed frame" section having engaging members by which the swinging frame may be held-in raised position, the bed frame sections haying upwardly extending arms provided with means for se curing a bedding-supporting web, and a bedding supporting web adapted to be detachably secured to said arms.

Signed at Kent, King County, Washing- Prtl Q 'd ay 5 September, 1-924 I 5 I Hans-n RASMUSSEN. 

